Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Gordon visits MILF Camp
Thursday, August 7th, 2008
GMA 7 Video: http://www.gmanews.tv/video/26624/Gordon-visits-MILF-camp
Senator
Richard Gordon told MILF leaders during a meeting at Camp Darapanan in
Shariff Kabunsuan, that it is already too late to postpone the ARMM
elections.
50 cents per text to health and education
Saturday, August 2nd, 2008
Instead of reducing the P1 text charge, telecommunication firms are
willing to allocate half of their income from text messaging or P0.50
per text to health and education programs as investment in youth.
Sen. Richard Gordon said he was surprised to hear that Globe Telecom,
Smart Communications and Sun Cellular executives were amenable to his
idea when they discussed it during a Senate hearing.
He said keeping the P1 cost of text could make a lot of difference.
"I am against the removal of the P1-charge on text. There are 55
million Filipinos with cellphones today and with just one text message
a day per cellphone user, that’s P55 million. What we can do is leave
half of every peso to telcos and they can live with that. But the
other 50 cents, let’s put it in a program called Health and Education
Acceleration Program (HEAP)," Gordon said.
The program comes following a 50 percent cut on text rates in the next
three months, which the telecommunications firms granted and President
Arroyo announced last Monday.
Gordon said he was touched to hear the telcos’ representatives state
their desire to uplift the quality of education and health programs in
the country.
"I did not expect it, I actually shed a tear when they said they were
willing to set aside the 50 cents for the program on health and
education," he said.
"Are you happy with the education of your children today? Are you
happy with the quality of teaching today? Are their schools okay?
Their books? Do they have computers? Do they eat on time in school?
Based on that premise, I will ask you now, is it okay for you to pay
P1 per text but provide your children public education that can be
seen in America and other First World countries?" Gordon asked.
He said under his proposal, the P1 per text charge would remain for
five years since half of the telcos’ revenues would automatically go
to HEAP.
Gordon’s Senate Bill 2402 seeks to create the HEAP Corp., which will
be a government corporation that will spearhead the rehabilitation and
acceleration of education and health infrastructure in the country.
Under the HEAP, every commercial mobile service provider shall be
required to remit to the HEAP fund half of its net revenue earnings
arising from local text messages. Initial estimates place the amount
to be generated at around P98.7 billion a year, which will be a fund
separate from the budget allocated by government for public education.
These funds shall be earmarked for the construction of classrooms,
computer and science laboratories, clean cafeterias and school
facilities.
"I don’t think our telcos are so hard hearted and so attached to their
billions in profits that they won’t see this as a direct way to lift
millions of our people out of the cycle of poverty by providing them
the best quality education possible," he said.
"By lifting people out of poverty, it is not unlikely that the telcos
will also be assured of not only continued demand for their services
but also a higher demand for higher value services," Gordon said.
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080731202
The Philippine Star
‘Telecoms open to allocating half of revenues to health, education’
By Aurelia Calica
Friday, August 1, 2008
On Giuliani P22,000/seat
Saturday, August 2nd, 2008
VIDEO: http://www.inquirer.net/vdo/player.php?vid=1301
MANILA,
Philippines — They are both lawyers. They were both mayors who cleaned
up their dirty cities. They both led their constituents during a
disaster. And they both have RG for initials. All this Senator Richard
Gordon pointed out but said that he might be better than former New
York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.
"All I am saying is, we have
comparative accomplishments. Pero baka naman mas marami tayong krisis
na nilagpasan at pinagtagumpayan…RG siya, Rudy Giuliani, Italyano iyan
eh. Ako Richard Gordon, Amerikano, Gordon. Pero pinili ko maging
Pilipino pero siya pinili niya maging Amerikano [But maybe we survived
and overcame more crises…He's RG, Rudy Giuliani, an Italian. I am
Richard Gordon, American. But I chose to be Filipino, while he chose to
be an American]," he told reporters.
Giuliani spoke before
government and corporate VIPs at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel Tuesday
and called for transparency in government. He said Filipinos should
elect someone they could trust.
But Gordon said paying a hefty price to hear Giuliani speak did not make sense because the Philippines has a lot of heroes.
"Bakit
tayo magbabayad ng $22,000 per seat? Marami tayong bayani dito, mga
lider na subok sa crisis [Why pay $22,000 per seat? We have a lot of
heroes here, leaders who are tested by crises]," he said.
Gordon
said that while he admired Giuliani for his composure and leadership
during the 9/11 terror attacks in New York, the senator pointed out
that he handled more disasters — the Pinatubo eruption, the departure
of the Americans from the former Subic Naval Base, and even the Ormoc,
Leyte flashfloods.
"Bilib ako kay Giuliani at that particular
moment in time nuong nagging mayor siya at nuong tinamaan ng 9/11 ang
New York. Magaling talaga siya [I admired Giuliani at the particular
moment when he was mayor and New York was hit by 9/11. He's really
good]…I can understand where he’s coming from," he said.
But
Gordon reiterated that he has accomplished more, enumerating them thus:
"Lahat ng disaster napuntahan ko. Napaganda natin iyong base, tinanggal
naman tayo. Nagbakasyon tayo, nagturismo tayo, umangat ang turismo. WOW
Philippines, Intramuros, lahat sumikat. Naging presidente tayo ng
international organization ng tourism, PATA. Umalis ako sa turismo,
nilagay ako sa Senado at Red Cross [I have gone to all disasters. We
were able to improve the base, although we were removed there. We went
on vacation, we went into tourism and tourism improved. WOW Philippines
and Intramuros, all became popular. We became president of the Pacific
Asia Travel Association. After tourism, I joined the Senate and the Red
Cross]."
Boasting of his achievements, the president of the
Philippine National ed Cross said the PNRC now has a fire brigade with
10 fire trucks and would soon have ambulances and rescue trucks.
Gordon says he’s better than Giuliani
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:30:00 07/31/2008
Automated elections in ARMM means automation possible in whole country
Friday, July 25th, 2008
ROBIN
PADILLA PROMOTES ARMM AUTOMATED POLLS. Actor Robin Padilla holds up a
comic book educating voters about the August 11 automated elections in
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. With Padilla are Senator
Richard Gordon, Henrietta de Villa, chairperson of the Pastoral Council
for Responsible Voting; Kevin Chung, Chief Executive Officer of Avante
International Technology Inc. which signed up the actor, a Muslim
convert, for P2 million to promote the computerized polls; and Comelec
commissioner Moslemen Macarambon. Photo taken by INQUIRER.net Reporter
Katherine Evangelista
MANILA, Philippines - The
chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and
revision of laws on Friday vowed to shoot down moves to postpone the
scheduled Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections.
Sen.
Richard Gordon issued the threat during a weekly forum in Quezon City,
saying that he would move once the bill reaches the Senate.
His remarks came after the bill seeking to postpone the ARMM polls was filed at the House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to re-schedule the ARMM polls from August this year to May 2010.
"Well, I can filibuster the proceedings. That measure will fall in my committee," Gordon said.
Gordon
had authored the Amended Automated Elections Law or republic Act 9369
which calls for the pilot testing of automated election system in six
cities and six provinces prior to its implementation in a national
election.
He also pushed for the pilot testing of the automated elections during the ARMM polls slated on August 11.
"The
ARMM has been labeled in the past as the perennial election hotspot and
where supposedly a lot of cheating takes place. If the automated
election works in ARMM, it can work anywhere in the country," Gordon
said.- GMANews.TV
Senator vows to filibuster vs ARMM polls postponement
07/25/2008 | 09:43 PM
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/109459/
Senator-vows-to-filibuster-vs-ARMM-polls-postponement
UAAP Team Philippines
Friday, July 25th, 2008
Senator
Richard Gordon and US Ambassador Kristie Kenney watch as NBA Washington
Wizard star Gilbert Arenas hands a Team Philippines jacket to Manny
Pacquiao after the Ateneo-La Salle UAAP game. With them are Adidas
director Joey Singian.
Appeal for aid for Cotabato
Friday, July 25th, 2008
Philippine
National Red Cross (PNRC) chairman and Sen. Richard Gordon said many
parts of Cotabato City remain flooded but are getting little help from
the government.
"I think the (government) agencies have
forgotten about Cotabato," Gordon said, adding that a number of
families in the city choose to stay in their flooded homes instead of
seeking refuge in evacuation centers.
"If you see the people
there, they’re on rooftops. They are in a very difficult situation.
Even the bridges are damaged," he said.
Cotabato Archbishop
Orlando Quevedo, former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP), also appealed for help for the city’s flood
victims.
The 69-year-old prelate said some 2,800 of the affected
families are staying in 25 evacuation centers, and 11,000 others in
temporary shelters provided by the city government and the Catholic
Church.
Gordon said the Cotabato City needs more food, medicine,
rubber boats, ambulances and four-wheel drive vehicles so those in
far-flung areas could be rescued.
He said there must also be massive effort to repair all the drainage systems destroyed by the floodwaters.
"It
has been two weeks. The Muslim children cannot go to school because
their schools are also submerged. I will ask the NDCC (National
Disaster Coordinating Council) to provide additional assistance to
Cotabato," he said.
Aside from giving donations in cash or kind, Quevedo said city folk unaffected by the flooding could render volunteer work.
"There
are a hundred little things to be done. They could (remove) water
lilies or provide food for the volunteers, list names, repack and
distribute supplies, and visit the evacuees," he said.
"I thank
everyone and every organization – government, non-government, civic
organizations, religious groups, the military – helping take care of
their needs," Quevedo said.
Assistance may be coursed through
the Mindanao Cross, Notre Dame Avenue, Cotabato City; dxMS Cotabato
City, dxND Kidapawan City and dxOM-FM Koronadal City.
Cash
donations may be remitted to Notre Dame University, Metrobank Account
No. 707-490-0107, or the Archdiocese of Cotabato, EastWest Bank Account
No. 63-02-005212.
Gordon, bishop appeal for aid for Cotobato
Philippine Star
07/14/2008
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storyPage.aspx?storyId=125091
Back to Iloilo and prioritizing Aklan
Monday, June 30th, 2008Back to Iloilo
PNRC
Chairman Dick Gordon returned to Iloilo last Sunday with U.S.
Ambassador Kristie Kenney for relief operations. The U.S. government
through Jon Lindberg of USAID donated US$100,000 to the PNRC.
Prioritize Aklan
Senator
Richard J. Gordon, the principal volunteer and Chairman of the
Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), distributed 1,035 packs of relief
supplies to the citizens of Aklan last Saturday, June 28 which were
airlifted by US Navy helicopters. Each relief supply contained 4 kilos
of rice, 4 cans of sardines and 4 packs of noodles.
“The 1,035
packs of relief goods we distributed last Saturday, with the help of
the US Navy, were just the initial supplies out of the 7,000 relief
supplies we will be sending to Aklan. We’ve sent an additional 5,965
packs of relief goods through a Sulpicio Lines vessel bound for Aklan
which departed 7am, Monday morning,” Gordon said.
“We are
continually working to get support from here and abroad to provide our
countrymen ravaged by Typhoon Frank with the necessary supplies they
need. We will not rest until we are sure that those needs are met,” he
said.
“So far we have already raised P7,322,294.21 from foreign
donations, P2,870,000.00 from local donations and P557,000.00 from
individual donations. This brings it to a total of P10,749,294.21,” he
said.
“We have already talked with USAID, AUSAID and the IFRC
for relief donations. USAID has already approved a $100,000 donation.
We are just waiting for its release. The proceeds will be used to
purchase Jerry cans, blankets and mosquito nets. USAID boxes will also
be given to the victims of the calamity,” he added.
How to Help Typhoon Frank Victims
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
MANILA,
Philippines — Donations to the Philippine National Red Cross to
augment its relief and rehabilitation efforts can be made in person, by
delivery, through banks and credit cards, online, and via text messages.
Senator
Richard Gordon, PNRC chairman said, the most urgent needs of typhoon
"Frank" (international codename) victims were: food items like rice,
noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans,
and potable water;
Medicines like paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins, and medications to treat diarrheal diseases;
Non-food items
like bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic
mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, water containers, water
purification tablets, plastic sheetings, and laundry soap; and for its
rehabilitation programs, shelter materials for house repair.
Gordon listed the ways the Red Cross would accept donations:
Cash or check donations, which are the preferred donations of the
PNRC, can be sent to the national headquarters of the Philippine
National Red Cross in Manila. "We could also arrange for donation
pick-up," he said.
Bank deposits can be made at the following accounts of Philippine
National Red Cross:
• Metrobank, Port Area Branch
Peso account number: 151-3-041-63122-8
Dollar account number: 151-2-151-00218-2
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM
• Bank of the Philippine Islands, Port Area Branch
Peso account number: 4991-0010-99
Type of Account: Current
• Bank of the Philippine Islands, UN Branch
Dollar account number: 8114-0030-94
Type of Account: Savings
Swift Code: BOPI PH MM
To
properly acknowledge donations through banks, donors are advised "to
fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979
with your name, address and contact number," Gordon said.
Those who want to donate using their credit card
are advised to fax to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575 the following
information: Name of card member, billing address, contact numbers
(phone and mobile), credit card number, expiration date, CCV2/CVC2
(last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address,
amount to be donated.
Online donations may also be made at
http://www.redcross.org.ph the PNRC website.
For SMS or text donations, just text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (for Globe) or 4483 (Smart);
For G-cash, text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882.
Local in-kind donations could also be sent to the PNRC national headquarters in Manila or donation pickups may be arranged.
For international in-kind, the following are required:
1. Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
2. A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
3. Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original
Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway
Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The
Philippine National Red Cross–National Headquarters c/o Secretary
General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.
Gordon
said the PNRC would not accept rotten, damaged, expired or decayed
goods. "Though we appreciate your generosity, the PNRC also discourages
donations of old clothes as we have more than enough to go around," he
said.
For questions, Gordon also gave out the PNRC hotline 143 or 527.0000.
Red Cross information, contact nos. for ‘Frank’ donations
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:20:00 06/25/2008
Surviors conquered themselves
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
For
23-year-old Jose Mari Garbo and company, their training and experience
as seafarers equipped them with the necessary skills that helped them
survive the ordeal which they went through after their ferry Princess
of the Stars capsized off Sibuyan Island in Romblon last Saturday.
Garbo,
one of 10 seafarers who survived typhoon "Frank" over the weekend, was
among the 28 passengers of the ill-fated ship who were treated at the
Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) head office in South Harbor,
Manila.
"We (seamen) were more organized because we knew what to
do. We knew how to balance. There were times that the raft would be
forced to fold because it was being battered by the strong waves. We
would then put our feet on the edge of the raft to keep it from
folding," recalled Garbo of their experience in the lifeboat.
"Unlike
other passengers who jumped into the sea at a high elevation, I decided
to wait for the ship to get closer to the sea before I decided to jump
because I remembered in the movie ‘Titanic’ that some of the passengers
who jumped at a higher elevation hit the ship’s railings. It was safer
if I jumped closer to the sea," Garbo said.
Garbo shared that
whenever their raft would be filled with sea and rainwater, they would
use their shoes and plastic bags to remove the water, adding that this
was necessary so their boat would not sink.
They spent 22 hours at sea before they finally saw land.
PNRC chairman Sen. Richard Gordon commended the 10 seafarers and other survivors for their heroism.
"One by one they rescued other passengers and they helped each other get through the harrowing experience," Gordon said.
He
added that the "wounds they (survivors) sustained were caused by their
desire to survive. It was man against nature, men against themselves
and in the end they conquered themselves in order to survive," he said.
Gordon
said that despite the economic difficulty in the area, the residents
gave the stranded passengers slippers, clothes and food.
"We
took down their contact numbers. Hopefully, when we have returned home
and have money we would be able to repay them for helping us," said
Garbo.
Gordon said that he was supposed to join President Arroyo
on her trip to the United States where he would discuss the Veterans
Bill with US legislators.
But he decided to stay behind to attend to the victims of the passenger ship.
Philippine Star Headlines
Seafarers on ship: We knew what to do
By Evelyn Macairan
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=20080624140&type=2
